Powerboost or RamCharger

[v8440]

I've had great experience with dodges for more than 2 decades. It's the current administration that I think is really messing things up. By administration, I mean the stellantis folks.

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[dochawk]

Actually, I'm even more concerned about the mess of the 4xe plugin wrangler by the same overlords.

and now I see, fresh this morning, that 200k of them have been recalled: https://lite.cnn.com/2024/09/30/business/stellantis-recall-jeep/index.html

 

[dochawk]

I'm honestly looking forward to hearing your feedback.

It's been a while since this post, but today I got nudged into test driving a maverick ecoboost (the 2.0).

(we'll be ordering a maverick for my wife while I waffle about what [and if] the Ramcharger finally does).

I opened it up as soon as I straightened from leaving the dealer lot.

Impressive acceleration, and I didn't feel a lagged acceleration, so I backed off the pedal before hitting and unwise speed.

And as I was backing off, I heard the much higher pitched sound take up. Hmm, so I put the pedal back down, and much more power.

OK, so I gave up *before* the turbo kicked in.

So this leaves the powerboost and it's "cheating" with the electric motor as the only turbo I've found satisfying. (qualify the with not going more that about 5mph in the Bently Turbo R at the auction I drove at the auction! Supposedly the idle of that big RR V8 keeps them spun up a bit).

 

[Samson16]

It's been a while since this post, but today I got nudged into test driving a maverick ecoboost (the 2.0).

(we'll be ordering a maverick for my wife while I waffle about what [and if] the Ramcharger finally does).

I opened it up as soon as I straightened from leaving the dealer lot.

Impressive acceleration, and I didn't feel a lagged acceleration, so I backed off the pedal before hitting and unwise speed.

And as I was backing off, I heard the much higher pitched sound take up. Hmm, so I put the pedal back down, and much more power.

OK, so I gave up *before* the turbo kicked in.

So this leaves the powerboost and it's "cheating" with the electric motor as the only turbo I've found satisfying. (qualify the with not going more that about 5mph in the Bently Turbo R at the auction I drove at the auction! Supposedly the idle of that big RR V8 keeps them spun up a bit).

Have you tried the Honda Ridgeline? They’re highly recommended and no pesky turbo to concern yourself with.

edit: Bentley Turbo R. Nice memory sir!

 

[Samson16]

How does the mythical Ramcharger behave if it is not plugged in for several tankfuls and a thousand miles?

 

[RickBullotta]

How does the mythical Ramcharger behave if it is not plugged in for several tankfuls and a thousand miles?

You turn the key and drive away. Nothing magical.

 

[Samson16]

You turn the key and drive away. Nothing magical.

So you never really need to plug it in?

 

[Samson16]

The ICE charges the HVB faster than the load drains it? And heat buildup is nonexistent? What an amazing marvel! No wonder it doesn’t exist.

 

[Samson16]

No current or past EREV can run on gas alone that I can find. ??‍

I want the Ramcharger to be a resounding success, and thus my curiosity grinds away at it.

The PB is without question the best half ton powertrain across all brands, and yet the naysayers tilt at windmills largely of their own creation.
My Ramcharger questions are not that.

 

[dochawk]

Have you tried the Honda Ridgeline?

It's possible that I'll consider a Japanese vehicle after the funeral of the last US Veteran who fought in the Pacific, but I wouldn't place a big bet on that!

So you never really need to plug it in?

Nope.

The gas engine is only a generator on the Ramcharger; drive is all electric, all the time.

But I'll still hold out until it exists.

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

So you never really need to plug it in?

Correct, but what’s the advantage of an electric vehicle with a gas power generator?

The hybrid thing like the power boost I can understand, but this Ramcharger thing is about as smart as a Tesla with a Honda generator stuck in the hatch

 

[Snakebitten]

Correct, but what’s the advantage of an electric vehicle with a gas power generator?

The hybrid thing like the power boost I can understand, but this Ramcharger thing is about as smart as a Tesla with a Honda generator stuck in the hatch

It's not really a new concept. Diesel-generator/Electric-motor locomotive. Been around a very long time.

But does it scale to a consumer pickup truck? And if it does scale, a pickup truck is the obvious use-case because you are attempting to overcome the limitations of a pure EV truck for long distances, as well as towing in the real world.

I personally believe the concept is brilliant and it's the perfect time. And I'm glad someone has the cajones to bring it to market. I just wish that if it was going to be Ram doing it, that it would have been when Ram was a bit higher at their game, if you know what I mean. Stellantis seems to be in a mess right now that's even more than the other truck builders.

Still, this kind of products is inevitable. So bring it on! Let's break the legacy 1/2 ton vs 3/4 ton while we are at it.

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

It's not really a new concept. Diesel-generator/Electric-motor locomotive. Been around a very long time.

But does it scale to a consumer pickup truck? And if it does scale, a pickup truck is the obvious use-case because you are attempting to overcome the limitations of a pure EV truck for long distances, as well as towing in the real world.

I personally believe the concept is brilliant and it's the perfect time. And I'm glad someone has the cajones to bring it to market. I just wish that if it was going to be Ram doing it, that it would have been when Ram was a bit higher at their game, if you know what I mean. Stellantis seems to be in a mess right now that's even more than the other truck builders.

Still, this kind of products is inevitable. So bring it on! Let's break the legacy 1/2 ton vs 3/4 ton while we are at it.

The locomotive it’s not really comparable because of the ideology.

A locomotive is electricly propelled because of the greater torque that can be created by an electric motor. That’s the only reason.

The idea of an electric vehicle is to get away from dependency upon fossil fuels, gasoline.

I guess it’s just my opinion, but the idea of an electric vehicle that is supposed to get the consumer away from gasoline, but then to put a gasoline engine to drive a generator to charge the batteries, that’s just the stupidest idea I’ve ever heard of in my life.

If you like the idea, that’s wonderful, that’s great, I’m happy for you. But conceptually it’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard of.

 

[turbopilot]

It's not really a new concept. Diesel-generator/Electric-motor locomotive. Been around a very long time.

But does it scale to a consumer pickup truck? And if it does scale, a pickup truck is the obvious use-case because you are attempting to overcome the limitations of a pure EV truck for long distances, as well as towing in the real world.

I personally believe the concept is brilliant and it's the perfect time. And I'm glad someone has the cajones to bring it to market. I just wish that if it was going to be Ram doing it, that it would have been when Ram was a bit higher at their game, if you know what I mean. Stellantis seems to be in a mess right now that's even more than the other truck builders.

Still, this kind of products is inevitable. So bring it on! Let's break the legacy 1/2 ton vs 3/4 ton while we are at it.

Given how poorly Stellantis is performing economically, I doubt they have the cash to bring the RamCharger to the market any time soon. This may account for the deafening silence about the project since it was announced. While the project is interesting the parts count and weight have to be major issues. A very soft EV market is the last straw, IMO.

 

[dochawk]

Correct, but what’s the advantage of an electric vehicle with a gas power generator?

More than 900 miles of range, with well over 100 of plugin range.

I'll consider a true electric when it can count on a ten minute jaunt off the freeway being sufficient to pick up four hours of driving at actual freeware speed wit AC and headlights, while not going over 80%.

663hp/615 torque (compared to 430/570 for powerboost). And no conventional transmission to limit power transfer.

Like @Snakebitten, I'd much prefer it be a ford, but it doesn't look like that can come in an F-150 until at lease 2028. And given that they have a PHEV Maverick for the rest of the world, but not the US . . . (I would buy one for my wife, right now, but will end up with the hybrid instead).

If I *do* end up with the Ramcharger (again, I'm skeptical), I may well commit the financial mortal sin of leasing it so as to stick dodge with any calamitous drop in value . . . but for long enough to await the 2015 ford, of course.

The EV ram and the Ramcharger PHEV are announced 2025 models, and specimens have been seen in various trim levels. The EV is supposed to come out first.

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